Meet with the team representatives for ground rules and coin toss.
The officials should be standing together when speaking with the representatives.
The second referee (R2) should address the representatives after the R1 is done reviewing ground rules, safety and any special circumstances. The R2 addresses the representatives regarding bench control, libero replacement and substitutions. The R1 should then review ground rules, safety and any special concerns with both coaches.
The clock for the warmup period will not begin until the team representatives are released from meeting with the officials.
The warm-up clock will run continuously stopping only for injury, safety issues, equipment failure or as stated above (girls’ pre-match warmup).
Girls only: The team that does not have exclusive use of the court must be out of the playing area. Opposing team members are NOT allowed to shag balls for the team that has exclusive court use.
Officials should not be discussing any player or coach of any team with the table personnel. If there is a concern the R2 needs to ask the R1 if they may approach during the time between sets to discuss concerns they may have such as but not limited to: players, coaches, fans, rules (correct or incorrect implementation of) judgment calls made or missed. etc.
If an illegal libero replacement (wrong player) isn’t caught until after two service points, it becomes a Position Fault, resulting in a loss of rally and point for the opposing team, and the incorrect player is removed, with the correct player brought in, but no sanctions (like delay) are typically added as the error was missed earlier, and the primary penalty is the point.
The key is that the incorrect player must be removed, and the original player must return, but since it’s past the point of correction before the serve, it’s a fault on the play itself.
Here’s the breakdown:
Identify the Error: The libero was replaced by the wrong player (not the player she originally replaced) and stayed in for two points, meaning the error was missed by the scorers/officials.
Penalty Applied: When discovered, this is treated as a Position Fault.
Result: The team that made the error loses the rally, and the other team gets a point.
Correction: The incorrect player must leave the court, and the libero must return to the player she originally replaced, or the player who should have replaced her.
No Further Sanctions: Because the error wasn’t caught immediately (before the serve), it’s usually just the point/loss of rally; you generally don’t get a delay warning in addition to the point for an error missed that long ago, as the initial responsibility was on the officials to catch it earlier.